French President Emmanuel Macron has been slapped in the face on an official visit to the south-east of France.
In a video circulating on social media, Mr Macron is seen walking up to a barrier on a trip to Tain-l’Hermitage outside the city of Valence.
A man in a green T-shirt slaps Mr Macron in the face before officers quickly move in. The president, meanwhile, is pulled away.
Two men have been arrested following the incident, French media report.
The man reportedly shouted “Down with Macron-ism” as he slapped the president.
In the video Mr Macron briefly returned to the barrier after the incident and once again interacted with the crowd.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter
Officers were out in force on the streets of Valence shortly after the slap, according to one French journalist’s tweet.
Politicians have swiftly denounced the incident.
Prime Minister Jean Castex told the National Assembly shortly afterwards that while democracy meant debate and legitimate disagreement “it must never in any case mean violence, verbal aggression and even less physical attack”.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon tweeted his “solidarity with the president” immediately after the slap.
And far-right leader Marine Le Pen posted her own condemnation, saying that “while democratic debate can be bitter, it can never tolerate physical violence”.
The president’s visit comes on the eve of a major step for French bars and restaurants, which will be able to reopen to indoor customers after seven months of closure. France’s overnight curfew is also being pushed back from 21:00 to 23:00 on Wednesday.
“Tomorrow, a new step will be taken,” Mr Macron tweeted after his visit to the hotel school. “Life will resume in all our territories!”
